As of the 2014-15 school year, the district's 22 schools had an enrollment of 11,660 students and 1,091.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.7:1.[1]

The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "A", the lowest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J.[8]

In 2014-15, Camden students who took the state PARCC test for the first time scored far below other cities in New Jersey, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.[9] About 6 percent of district students in grades three through eight are proficient in language arts, with about 4 percent testing proficient in math.

Just 5 to 8 percent of high school students tested at close to the statewide proficiency rate in language arts. For math, that number was 1 to 3 percent of high school students.

But there are also signs of progress. The State committed at least $50 million[10] to renovate Camden High School, the graduation rate has gone up four years in a row, and the District-led pre-school program has become a highlight.[11]

In 2015, a brand-new, $41 million, 110,000-square-foot school opened on Broadway,[12] home to students at a District school and two renaissance schools.

The District is guided by its school improvement plan, the Camden Commitment.[13]

Contents

In June 2004 the school district enacted a mandatory school uniform policy for all students. 10 schools had already started their own uniform policies.[14] Uniform policies were enforced effective September 2004.[15]

In the 2000s, the Camden school system was labeled as corrupt by some individuals; a July 6, 2006 editorial [44] written by Sherry Wolkoff appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The editorial, titled "Children of Camden get short end of the pencil," asserts that Camden school officials obtain unjustified bonuses while Camden schoolchildren have few resources.

In early 2006, allegations were also made that school officials had altered standardized test scores to improve Camden's national school ratings. "We know that, with respect to the test scores, those scores were not legitimately achieved," says Lucille Davy, New Jersey's acting commissioner of education. "There was manipulation of the process."[45]

In December 2013, the district reported that only three high school students had met the "college ready" standard, based on a minimum combined score of 1550 on the SAT.[46]

In the wake of 163 violent incidents in the district during the 2012-13 school year, the district undertook a $1.4 million project in 2014 to add digital cameras and electronic controls at doors to limit access to high school buildings.[47]

^Steele, Alison. "How an Iranian refugee rose to lead Camden's schools", The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 6, 2017. Accessed July 12, 2017. "After Rouhanifard’s family settled near Nashville, his father pumped gas until he was able to start a small business. Rouhanifard learned English, went to college, and became an educator. In 2013, Gov. Christie appointed him superintendent of Camden’s state-run school district, calling on him to turn around the city’s struggling schools."